Page 94 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
—Oh, there is a distinction. I hate Fragor with the heat of every single star in the firmament. I dislike the human because Fragor chose him, and everything that creature touches is corrupted. You would do well to stay away from Vaylen Stormsong.
Wow!That is some intense hatred. It’s evident in the fervor of his words, but what truly convinces me is the searing feeling of undeniable rancor that comes through our bond. It makes my skin prickle and my stomach churn. This animosity is ancient, and it has been stocked through the centuries into a pyre as blinding as all the stars in the sky. No doubt about it.
—Why? What happened between you two?
I want to know more, want to understand, and…
Suddenly I find myself lost in the labyrinth of his mind. By my mere desire to learn what happened, I’m led through passages made of smoke and fog. I travel to his past, a swath of memories so vast, I can’t wrap my head around it. He has lived many thousand lives from the moment Embernia was nothing but a barren piece of land occupied by savages in loincloths, to the moment we discovered humans and dragons could enhance each other’s powers to fight a common enemy, to now. Ahead, the fog disperses, and I think I will find the answer to my question. Instead, I find a thicker barrier. I reach for it, and I’m slammed backward.
—Stay out!Zephyros bellows.
I fall to one knee, my Tethers adjusting on their own, keeping me from losing my footing and plunging to the ground.
—I’m sorry, I plead.I simply want to understand.
—We all have our closed doors, little one. Yours is sealed shut even to yourself.
I grit my teeth, wishing to argue but knowing I have no right to. I do keep things bottled up. I do refuse to look at my past too closely for fear of breaking all over again.
Rising to my feet, I shut him out completely. I’m angry and overwhelmed, and it’s all I can do to not fall apart. What hurts the most is that his last words were offered with gentleness, not anger. It’s stupid because it shows he cares. I know he does. I feel it through our bond, and it’s yet another thing that has changed in my life. Somebody cares about me. I’m not alone anymore.
That knowledge nearly causes me to break into sobs. I manage to keep my composure, however.
I spend the rest of my free time sleeping. When I wake up, it’s close to midnight. I bolt upright. I have just enough time to fly to that peak—if Zephyros doesn’t refuse to take me. But do I want to go there? Do I want to take this chance?
At the thought of his lips on mine, my pulse speeds up. I can’t deny my body craves him. I want him to fuck me, thoroughly, just like he promised he would. But where will this lead? Any type of relationship between us will always be forbidden. We would be too powerful together, and the King would not feel safe or allow a partnership like ours. If we’re discovered, King Stonefall might order us court martialed, and it won’t matter how powerful Vaylen and I are. The King could order the Sky Order to destroy us, claiming it’s the only way to keep Embernia from a power grab that would plunge it into chaos. He’s already distrustful of us.
Yet, it goes against every fiber in my body to allow anyone—much less such a weak man—to influence my decision.
Throwing my feet off the bed, I stuff them into my boots and lace them up. No one has to find out about Vaylen and me. But I do have to find out how he will feel rocking between my legs. I want that man, and I’m done denying myself. I did that enough at the Academy. Now, there’s no more reason to go without.
40
Rhea
As Zephyros circles over the peak, I see a leveled clearing and lower myself to it using Vortex Drop. Even though I’ve practiced the maneuver a dozen times, it’s still scary, though not as much as when Zephyros did it for me the night we visited my father.
—Why are we here, little one?Zephyros asks as he circles above.
I kept the reason hidden from him, barring him from my thoughts and excitement.
—I’m sure you can guess.
—You are making a grave mistake,he grunts.
—That’s exactly the point.I glance around the clearing, finding no trace of Vaylen. We didn’t see Fragor on our way here either, so maybe I’m the first to arrive.
—Humans!Zephyros huffs.—Always driven by such basic instincts.
—Oh, don’t tell me you wouldn’t lose your mind if you saw a beautiful dragoness flying toward you.
It’s a terrible attempt to be funny. In fact, it’s tactless, considering the only female dragon to ever live was Heratrix. I expect him to bite my head off. I would deserve it. Instead, he gives me a sad look, his silver eyes shining as if lined with tears. My heart breaks at the sight, and I want to take the words back, but he allows no time for an apology as he flies away and shuts me from his mind.
“Zephyros, please.” I reach out a hand, as if I could grab his long tail and pull him back down, as if I could force him to listen to my apology. “Dammit!”
There’s a sound behind me. I whirl, heart pounding.
Vaylen appears from behind a massive rock, padding on bare feet. “You came.” He sounds surprised and glad at the same time.
